Cape Communities Commit to Deadly Choices
The Apunipima Cape York Health Council (Apunipima) will intensify its preventative health efforts across the region by partnering with Deadly Choices, with the express intention of optimising engagement with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, while reaffirming the importance of regular health checks.
Today, Apunipima Primary Health Care Manager, Debra Jia was joined by Deadly Choices Ambassadors, league legends Tyrone Roberts and former Hope Vale resident Brenton Bowen, at the Napranum Health Expo to announce the valued health partnership
Stretching across a service footprint of more than 137,000 square-kilometres, Apunipima is initiating the highly visible Deadly Choices health check shirt incentives, as part of its current primary health care strategy.
Through this dedicated approach to its model of care, Apunipima in partnership with Deadly Choices, will seek to empower communities towards taking control of their own health by visiting available services in Napranum (Charkil Om Primary Health Care Centre), Aurukun Health Care Centre, Coen Health Care Centre, Kowanyama (Atharpuch Family Health Centre), Mossman Gorge Primary Health Care Centre, Mapoon (Thimithi-Nhii Primary Health Care Clinic), Pormpuraaw, Lockhart River, Hope Vale, Laura, Wujal Wujal, plus other mobile facilities across the more remote areas of the region.
Upon completion of a health check, clients can choose a shirt of their liking, that is aligned to sporting partners in the NRL, AFL and Super Netball competitions already aligned to the Deadly Choices program.
The mutually beneficial arrangement between Apunipima and the national preventative health program of the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH) is something both parties are looking to instigate to the benefit of all communities across the Cape now, and into the future.
“It’s our pleasure to confirm an agreed strategy, incorporating future preventative health campaigns and general messaging, starting with today’s announcement, which will be implemented in conjunction with our newest licensee partner, here at Apunipima,” confirmed IUIH Director of Commercial Operations, Dallas Leon.
“As with all Deadly Choices programs, our community members are at the forefront of our initiatives, and we trust locals will embrace program activities which are designed to ensure the future health and quality of life for communities stretching right across this vast region.
“Obviously our health check shirts which are aligned to our numerous elite NRL, AFL and Super Netball clubs have proven highly successful among communities from right across Australia and are attributed to South-East Queensland elevating health check numbers by more than 4000% since inception 14 years ago.”
Deadly Choices aims to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to take control of their health, particularly as preventable chronic disease remains the leading cause of premature death and illness among communities right across Queensland and Australia.
“We need to support each other to make the required changes to improve the health of our families – to stop smoking; and for our little people to never start; to eat better food and exercise more. This is what Deadly Choices aims to achieve and we are optimistic of desired changes being forthcoming, in partnership with the invaluable work being done by Apunipima and its many associated health services across the Cape,” added Mr Leon.
